Bob Parker

Lt. Robert Parker served with the Omaha (Neb.) PD for 30 years and commanded the Emergency Response Unit. He is responsible for training thousands of law enforcement instructors in NTOA's Patrol Response to Active Shooters courses.

Is Law Enforcement Entering a Deadly New Era?

The deadly year of 2011 for law enforcement can be traced back to the 2009 ambush slayings in Oakland and Pittsburgh.

How can SWAT units help reduce police deaths? Before we answer this question, let's look at some statistics and trends.

Following a two-year decline, law enforcement fatalities in 2010 spiked to 162, which amounted to an increase of nearly 40 percent over 2009 when 117 officers were killed. Fifty-nine officers were fatally shot in 2010, a 20 percent increase from 49 in 2009, according to the 2010 NLEOMF fatality report.

2011 is proving to be an even deadlier year for police. As of March 28, 53 officers have been killed, which is a 13 percent increase over 2010. Twenty four of those have been killed by gunfire, an alarming 33 percent increase over 2010.

For proof, we need look no further than ambush attacks resulting in multiple police fatalities. Of the 59 gunfire fatalities in 2010, 10 of the 12 ambush deaths involved multiple officer casualties in five incidents, according to NLEOMF.

It's disturbingly clear that 2011 has picked up where 2010 left off. So far in 2011, six of the year's 24 ambush shooting deaths occurred in three multiple-officer incidents.

In 2009, "only" 117 police died — 49 officers were killed by gunfire; 15 of those were murdered in five multiple-officer ambushes. The year ended with the senseless slaughter of four Lakewood, Wash., Police officers who were ambushed while sitting inside a coffee shop on a Sunday morning.

Are America's police entering a deadly new era? The spike in duty deaths has occurred despite the many advancements in police training, equipment (particularly protective armor), and emergency medical trauma care. What does appear to be occurring is more and more criminals are showing an increasing willingness to engage police in armed confrontations.

America has seen this type of willingness before. As police deaths in the 1920s-1930s illustrate. Each year from 1921 to 1935, more than 200 officers were killed. This was a gangster era when police were outgunned, had no body armor, and lacked adequate medical attention. This deadly era lasted until police became better armed and targeted the gangsters.

The next deadly police death spike came from 1970 to 1981 when 200 officers were killed every year, except 1977 (189). The deadliest year recorded by NLEOMF is 1974, when 280 officers were slain. The catalyst was the militancy, radicalism, unrest and crime spike during those years. Once again, officers found themselves outgunned, without body armor, and lacking adequate medical care.

Body armor using DuPont's synthetic Kevlar fiber, which was developed by researcher Lester Shubin, was introduced in the mid-1970s. American Body Armor and Second Chance Body Armor were among the first to introduce Kevlar vests for law enforcement in the mid-1970s.

The formation of SWAT was another important development because tactical teams are designed to resolve high-risk incidents through training and tactics with the least number of casualties.

This brings me back to my original question, "Can SWAT help reduce police deaths?"

For that answer, I'd ask SWAT commanders, team leaders, and operators to take a serious look at how, when and where SWAT can help the officers in your agencies. After all, you should know your agency's challenges, dangers, and needs better than anyone. And if you don't know the answer, talk to the officers who work the street, and they'll tell you.

Be proactive. Identify the activities, assignments, locations, and criminals that are threats to your agency's officers. Plug SWAT in wherever you can to help make a difference. Volunteer to assist, back up, and train the officers in your agency. There's no more reassuring feeling for police than knowing SWAT is there to help when needed.

Make sure your training, tactics and response reflects the reality and potential of crime in your own and neighboring jurisdictions. In these dire economic times, mutual aid is a vital necessity.

Recommended Stories

Comments (3)

Displaying 1 - 3 of 3

Deadman @ 4/4/2011 5:30 PM

SWAT can't train you for every little task you encounter during your day,you can't respond to those encounters like a SWAT team member.Go to Street Survival and pay for it out of your own pocket if need be.There are other training venues to take advantage of,first thing,get a physical,be alert,watch their eyes,hands,body movements,be aware of them,their friends and the environment you're in.Take notice of all of the weapons you have,nightstick,pr-24,flashlight,pepper spray,taser, cuffs,firearm,fist,elbow,knee,foot,and your forehead and be aware of the weapons in your environment available to both you and your adversary.Develop a 6th sense.Get your union to get more training from your department or a good attorney to sue your department,your union and your rep.Change procedures for back-up to roll in case ,develop in your mind a plan to back-up if you have to,if a subject gets too close,stiff arm him into the middle of next week,it is a survival tool,learn the defenses available to you.Get a survival mode in your brain,YOU WILL NOT DIE TODAY.

Deadman @ 4/4/2011 5:46 PM

Don't be a college educated moron that thinks like a high school kid that no harm can befall you,you are not impervious to harm,you bleed like the next guy.Don't think that just because you lift weights,train with martial arts,have a body sculpted like a grecian god you won't be harmed and don't rely on back-up because think back,did you ever get a call to back somebody up and sat and finished your meal or BS'd some skirt one last moment to get a phone number or took your time and drove minding the traffic laws because you really didn't like the guy or woman anyways,who cares.Quit acting like a jerk or kid,do your job,because tomorrow the shoe will be on the other foot.Be a professional or go get a job driving a truck.Be aware of your surroundings,your capabilities,Don't Go Home In A Body Bag!

Michael @ 4/4/2011 9:14 PM

You bet it's on the rise, why wouldn't it be. We let these scumbags out because of overcrowding and lighter sentences by the liberal judges. If the laws were tougher on these scumbags and were executed instead of life sentences, I think that would be a start. But, as a cop you must have the state of mind that you will overcome and control the environment around you. Have a plan of action in your mind and remember all that you have been taught as well as your experiences. But,you must think in a positive mode to kick ass when needed to overcome and protect yourself there is no second place. I remember, in the academy we were told this, "I would rather be tried by twelve then carried by six". That motto should sum it all up, it has for me for years.

Loading...

Join the Discussion

POLICE Magazine does not tolerate comments that include profanity, personal attacks or antisocial behavior (such as "spamming" or "trolling"). This and other inappropriate content or material will be removed. We reserve the right to block any user who violates this, including removing all content posted by that user.

Other Recent Blog Posts

Yes! Please rush me my FREE TRIAL ISSUE of POLICE magazine and FREE Officer Survival Guide with tips and tactics to help me safely get out of 10 different situations.

Just fill in the form to the right and click the button to receive your FREE Trial Issue.

If POLICE does not satisfy you, just write "cancel" on the invoice and send it back. You'll pay nothing, and the FREE issue is yours to keep. If you enjoy POLICE, pay only $25 for a full one-year subscription (12 issues in all). Enjoy a savings of nearly 60% off the cover price!